If you lived in South Korea instead of Micronesia, Federated States of, you would:

Health

live 16.3 years longer

In Micronesia, Federated States of, the average life expectancy is 67 years (64 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2024. In South Korea, that number is 84 years (81 years for men, 87 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 82.8% less likely to be obese

In Micronesia, Federated States of, 48.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In South Korea, that number is 8.4% of people as of 2024.

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see 10.5 times more spent on your healthcare

Micronesia, Federated States of spends $482 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). South Korea spends $5,081 as of 2024.

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have 2.7 times more doctors per person

Micronesia, Federated States of has 9.7 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2020. South Korea has 26.1 as of 2022.

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have 85.4% more access to essential health services

Micronesia, Federated States of scores 48 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. South Korea scores 89 as of 2021.

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be 39.3% more likely to die by suicide

Micronesia, Federated States of has a suicide rate of 19.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In South Korea, it is 27.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 65.0% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Micronesia, Federated States of, 41.2% live below the poverty line as of 2013. In South Korea, however, that number is 14.4% as of 2016.

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make 8.2 times more money

Micronesia, Federated States of has a GDP per capita of $4,414 as of 2025, while in South Korea, the GDP per capita is $36,227 as of 2025.

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Life

be 96.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In Micronesia, Federated States of, approximately 129.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In South Korea, 4.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 88.7% less likely to die during infancy

In Micronesia, Federated States of, approximately 20.3 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In South Korea, on the other hand, 2.3 children do as of 2024.

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have 78.9% fewer children

In Micronesia, Federated States of, there are approximately 22.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In South Korea, there are 4.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 15.1% more likely to have access to electricity

In Micronesia, Federated States of, approximately 87% of people have electricity access (97% in urban areas, and 84% in rural areas) as of 2023. In South Korea, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 2.5 times more likely to have internet access

In Micronesia, Federated States of, approximately 39.5% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In South Korea, about 97.9% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 53.2% less on education

Micronesia, Federated States of spends 11.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. South Korea spends 5.4% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 32.6% less on healthcare

Micronesia, Federated States of spends 12.9% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In South Korea, that number is 8.7% of GDP as of 2024.

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Geography

see 60.5% less coastline

Micronesia, Federated States of has a total of 6,112 km of coastline. In South Korea, that number is 2,413 km.

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Safety

be 51.1% less likely to die in a road accident

In Micronesia, Federated States of, road accidents kill 14.1 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In South Korea, they kill 6.9 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 8.2 times more home broadband

Micronesia, Federated States of has 5.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. South Korea has 47.8 as of 2024.

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Environment

be 64.8% less likely to die from air pollution

In Micronesia, Federated States of, air pollution causes 54.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In South Korea, it causes 19.0 as of 2019.

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Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), The World Factbook (2013–2016), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

South Korea: At a glance

South Korea (sometimes abbreviated ROK) is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 96,920 sq km. An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. In 1910, Tokyo formally annexed the entire Peninsula. Korea regained its independence following Japan's surrender to the United States in 1945. After World War II, a democratic-based government (Republic of Korea, ROK) was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a communist-style government was installed in the north (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), US troops and UN forces fought alongside ROK soldiers to defend South Korea from a DPRK invasion supported by China and the Soviet Union. A 1953 armistice split the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. PARK Chung-hee took over leadership of the country in a 1961 coup. During his regime, from 1961 to 1979, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth, with per capita income rising to roughly 17 times the level of North Korea. South Korea held its first free presidential election under a revised democratic constitution in 1987, with former ROK Army general ROH Tae-woo winning a close race. In 1993, KIM Young-sam (1993-98) became the first civilian president of South Korea's new democratic era. President KIM Dae-jung (1998-2003) won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his contributions to South Korean democracy and his "Sunshine" policy of engagement with North Korea. President PARK Geun-hye, daughter of former ROK President PARK Chung-hee, took office in February 2013 and is South Korea's first female leader. South Korea holds a non-permanent seat (2013-14) on the UN Security Council and will host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Serious tensions with North Korea have punctuated inter-Korean relations in recent years, including the North's attacks on a South Korean ship and island in 2010, nuclear and missile tests, and its temporary closure of the inter-Korean Kaesong Industrial Complex in 2013.
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